The Mystery of Monastery Farm eBook

“You will doubtless be surprised on perusing
this affectionate note. I know you, of course.
I also know why you are here. When I met you today
I at once knew it was all up with me unless I could
outgeneral you—­and I think I have.
Part of the money you seek you will find in the bureau
drawer. You are welcome to it. I have carried
it around a year, and have not been able to buy so
much as a cigar with it. Possibly you may be able
to convince the bank that you are not one of the men
who stole it. But, in return for making you so
liberal a bequest, I have possessed myself of your
watch and pocketbook. I trust that this will not
distress you. My financial condition made it
a necessity. I kindly fixed your wine last night
in order to give you a good night’s rest.
When you arrest me be sure you have the needed papers.
Good-by.

“JamesThurston, alias Thorne.”

Worth at once drew out the drawer of the bureau and
found at its further end a package securely wrapped
in brown paper; but fearing there still might be deception,
opened it, and sure enough, he counted fifty one-thousand-pound
Bank of England notes. Securely tying them together,
he placed them in the secret pocket which had been
so recently rifled, and started to go downstairs,
but found that the porter was right, he was locked
in his room. After thumping at the door, without
success, he remembered seeing a bell, which he rang
lustily. After a few minutes a youth came to
the door and turned the key. Worth, thus released,
hastened down to discover that it was eleven o’clock
in the forenoon. Within two hours a warrant for
the arrest of James Thurston, alias James Thorne, was
issued with a description of the watch and the amount
of money stolen. A notice of reward was also
issued and appeared at once in the newspapers.
A general alarm was sent out by the Police Department,
the railroad stations and steamboat landings were
vigilantly watched, but without any results.
Thorne had gotten away while Worth was asleep.

Fortunately, before leaving home Worth had sewed in
the lining of his coat a sum of money as a reserve
fund. This had not been discovered, but for which
fact he would have found himself penniless in a strange
land, with only his silver star as the insignia of
his identity.

CHAPTER VII

“MiceandmenGangaft
A-gley”

The return of Job Worth to London was not at all joyous.
He sat upon the deck in his ship chair or lay in his
bunk drawing darkest pictures of his defeat, as he
called it. Nor was there any elation in his feelings
when, upon his arrival at the bank, the cashier handed
him a check for three thousand pounds, as a reward
for the restoration of the fifty thousand pounds.
Yes, it was something to be sure; yet not much.
There was chagrin in it all, and he continually felt
this, as he mingled with his colleagues. To him